Went to pick up my van today and did a little investigating.
2000 Astro LS AWD for $450. I was told it had 145k with a recent top end. It's got 155k. Haven't confirmed the top end work, but I'll see if I can. Most machine shops put those heat melt disks on the freeze plugs to reject warranty work if it was overheated. So if I see them I'll assume it was done.
Van was advertised as having a blown trans. I picked up a rebuilt one from a 98 Blazer in case and it came with an NP233. The more I picked the brain of the seller the more I suspected something simple and I think I'm right. Something happened with the cable / shifter and it broke and wouldn't shift the trans. I popped the cable off underneath, shifted it into park and started it up. No major drama there...
The service AWD light is on. I'll have to figure that out. The bottom doors (barn doors) won't open. The driver's door needs new hinge bushings - BADLY. So bad the door panel stuck and broke...
Not sure what I'm going to do with the AWD. Not sure if it's an encoder, the NP136 or something else, but I'm very tempted to convert the NP233 to manual shift and just run as 4WD.
BTW, the tow truck is mine... 87 F350, 460, 5spd 4.10 LS rear. The 460 isn't fast, but several times I had to look back to make sure the van was still there. Oh, and yes, I dropped the front driveshaft out before towing it. I did move the van a foot or two while hooking up and getting to the bolts. There was no battery in the truck, so I don't see how that could have tripped the service AWD light. No, I haven't looked at the fuse...
2000 Astro LS AWD for $450. I was told it had 145k with a recent top end. It's got 155k. Haven't confirmed the top end work, but I'll see if I can. Most machine shops put those heat melt disks on the freeze plugs to reject warranty work if it was overheated. So if I see them I'll assume it was done.
Van was advertised as having a blown trans. I picked up a rebuilt one from a 98 Blazer in case and it came with an NP233. The more I picked the brain of the seller the more I suspected something simple and I think I'm right. Something happened with the cable / shifter and it broke and wouldn't shift the trans. I popped the cable off underneath, shifted it into park and started it up. No major drama there...
The service AWD light is on. I'll have to figure that out. The bottom doors (barn doors) won't open. The driver's door needs new hinge bushings - BADLY. So bad the door panel stuck and broke...
Not sure what I'm going to do with the AWD. Not sure if it's an encoder, the NP136 or something else, but I'm very tempted to convert the NP233 to manual shift and just run as 4WD.
BTW, the tow truck is mine... 87 F350, 460, 5spd 4.10 LS rear. The 460 isn't fast, but several times I had to look back to make sure the van was still there. Oh, and yes, I dropped the front driveshaft out before towing it. I did move the van a foot or two while hooking up and getting to the bolts. There was no battery in the truck, so I don't see how that could have tripped the service AWD light. No, I haven't looked at the fuse...